Records on “Obama phones” (22-17899-F)

The materials in FOIA 22-17899-F are a selective, not necessarily all-inclusive, body of documents responsive to the topic of the FOIA. Researchers should consult an archivist about related materials.

FOIA 22-17899-F requested materials related to “Obama phones”, specifically the information that was collected in exchange for the use of these phones, for whom the information was collected, how the information was used, and where the information was stored.

This FOIA primarily contains Federal Communications Commission (FCC) presentations, press releases, remarks, and reports pertaining to the Lifeline Reform Order.

9 folders, approximately 1,258 pages / 9 assets

  • Electronic Records
  • Textual

The materials in FOIA 22-17899-F are a systematic body of documents responsive to the topic of the FOIA. Researchers should consult an archivist about related materials.

Documents responsive to this FOIA were found in these collection areas – White House Office of Records Management (WHORM) Subject Files and Staff Member Office Files and Obama Presidential Electronic Records. 

WHORM Subject Files are processed at the document level. The WHORM Subject File was compiled by the White House Office of Records Management and consists of a series of documents assigned a letter/number combination and filed in a subject category. A complete listing of the subject categories, including a detailed description of each category, is available on the National Archives Catalog. 

Staff Member Office Files are maintained at the folder level by staff members within their individual offices and document all levels of administration activity. Staff Member Office Files are processed at the folder level, that is, individual documents are not selected and removed from a folder for processing. While this method maintains folder integrity, it frequently results in the incidental processing of documents that are not wholly responsive to the subject area. 

The Executive Office of the President (EOP) instance of the Electronic Records Archive (ERA) contains electronic records created or received by Obama administration staff. These records are stored in Search and Access Sets (SAS) that represent their originating computer program, such as Exchange Email or the Worker and Visitor Entry System (WAVES). In addition to records captured from the White House’s electronic systems, EOP-ERA also contains records from the home and shared drives used by White House
staff.

The following is a list of documents, folders, and electronic search results lists (SRLs) that were processed in
response to FOIA 22-17899-F:

Textual Records

Records Management, White House Office of

     Subject Files - ED (Education)

          1111049

     Subject Files - FG001-07 (Briefing Papers)

          1114806 

     Subject Files - FG006-01 (White House Office - Staff - Staff Meetings)

          1127347

Staff Member Office Files

     National Economic Council (NEC)

          Edelman, Ross David - Subject Files

               Binder - Lifeline Reform 08/17/2015 [Binder 1]

               Binder - Lifeline Reform 08/17/2015 [Binder 2]

               Binder - Lifeline/Low-Income Broadband 12/22/2015

          Hargrove, September - Subject Files

               [Lifeline Reform 08/17/2015] [Folder 1]

               Binder - Lifeline Reform 08/17/2015

               Lifeline Reform

Electronic Records

          Email_Presidential contains 9 assets, of which 1 are withheld in part and 8 are withheld in full.

 

Collection is open to all researchers. Access to Barack Obama Presidential Records is governed by the Presidential Records Act (PRA) (44 USC 2201) and the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) (5 USC 552, as amended) and therefore records may be restricted in whole or in part in accordance with legal exemptions.

Documents in this collection that were prepared by officials of the United States government as part of their official duties are in the public domain. Researchers are advised to consult the copyright law of the United States (Title 17, USC) which governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material.

Official records of Barack Obama’s presidency are housed at the Barack Obama Presidential Library and administered by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) under the provisions of the Presidential Records Act (PRA).

Staff Archivists, 2024. Previously restricted materials are added as they are released.